Hello! My name is Alison Brehme and I’m a corporate dropout.

On average, I worked 50-60 hours a week and traveled at least once a month. I struggled with migraines and chronic pain from a car accident in 2006.

Working long hours and not taking care of myself took a toll. My health and my personal life suffered.

Why did I make the switch?

I had a few wake up calls that literally shook me to my core.

Wake Up Call #1

One of marketing mentor’s passed away from cancer. She was a strong and talented woman who was incredibly business savvy, but sadly her health issues persisted and her time on earth was cut too short. When that happened, I saw my life flash before me. My life had the potential to end up the same if I didn’t start making some changes.

Wake Up Call #2

My alarm went off, but I couldn’t get up. I had a pact schedule with phone calls and meetings plus looming deadlines I knew I wasn’t going to get to until after hours. This was my every day, nothing new, but for some reason my chest tightened. I started to panic. I thought I was having a heart attack. That’s ridiculous. I was only 31 at the time. I couldn’t have a heart attack at my age?! I rested for a while, but the pain came back. Turns out it wasn’t a heart attack (Thank God), but it definitely got my attention. I knew I couldn’t continue living life this way.

In the end, I couldn’t take it anymore. I saw the toll it took on myself, coworkers and friends. I had to leave.

So yes, I’m a corporate drop out.

My first-hand experience and observations boiled down to …companies were continuing to put profits before their people.

I am not naïve. You have to think about margins and profits when you are running a business. I am not saying you shouldn’t. What I am saying is you should put your people first.

Richard Branson hit the nail on the head when he said:

“Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.”

I believe a solution to this problem is corporate wellness.

And I am not talking about your boring-run-of-the-mill-cookie-cutter programs where you have gym discounts, chair massages and a fruit bowl in the kitchen.

I am talking about making an actual difference and disrupting the status quo.

You need to take consistent action and show that you genuinely care about your employees.

Prioritize your people first and you’ll have happy and healthier employees that want to go above and beyond to help you and your company succeed.

A little more about me….

Those who know me describe me as adventurous, hard-working, responsible and trustworthy. I also love sarcasm…no that’s not sarcasm! I love coffee, peppermint tea, helping others, jeans, horses, my grandma’s fried chicken (I’m from the south y’all) and traveling to new places.

In all seriousness though, I have hands-on experience and know what the corporate world is all about. My vision for a healthier workplace is a deep passion of mind. I am determined to create change. If we don’t do something to disrupt the status quo then there will be consequences.

Your employees will suffer. You will lose top talent. Productivity will continue to decline. Oh and it will cost you money! Lots of it. Healthcare costs are not going down any time soon. You need to be proactive so that your company can become more profitable.

I know it’s an ambitious dream, but I am determined to make it a reality so I can make a positive difference in the workforce.

I believe you want that too or you wouldn’t be here. You may not know how or where to start, but that’s okay. We can work together and determine what is best for you and your organization.

So I have a question for you. Are you with me?

Bio

Alison Brehme is the Founder and CEO of Virtual Corporate Wellness. Her company is dedicated to helping businesses invest in their team so they can maximize productivity, boost profits, and become known as one of the best places to work!

Corporate Wellness isn’t just a gym membership, a fruit bowl, or healthy snacks. It’s a business necessity that increases employee engagement, lowers healthcare costs, and create a stress-free culture where wellness is the center.

With over 12 years in corporate marketing, Alison understands both the executive side and employee aspect of corporate wellness making her perspective unique.

In addition to managing her own company, she’s the Program Director of Well.org’s Corporate Wellness Academy, a certification program for those interested in workplace wellness. She’s also a certified nutrition coach, certified corporate wellness consultant and has an advertising degree from the University of Texas.